Cancún
Mexico · Country profile
Cancún is the beach resort capital of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, a city built for the sun, the sand and the turquoise sea that laps the whole Caribbean coast. The hotel zone, the long strip of hotels, malls and nightclubs on the barrier island, spreads its pale beaches between the open sea and the green lagoon, while the modern downtown holds the everyday life of the city. Cancún is also the launch pad of the region, with the ruins of the Tulum and the Chichén Itzá, the cenotes of the inland and the islands of Isla Mujeres and Cozumel all reachable in a day. The nightlife of the strip is legendary and the Mayan heritage of the area is deep. Warm, easy and endlessly functional, Cancún mixes the classic beach holiday with the greatest archaeology of the Americas.
About Cancún
Cancún is a city in Mexico. The city's documented population is around 940,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Mexican Peso (MXN) and Spanish is spoken; the dialling code is +52. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Cancún International Airport.
The Strip, the Sea and the Holiday Machine of the Caribbean
Cancún is a purpose-built resort that knows exactly what it is: a long strip of white sand, big hotels, loud nightlife and the everyday machinery of the beach holiday. The water, the famous turquoise of the Caribbean, is the star, and the swimming, the boating and the lounging fill the days. The city also works as the base of the wider region, with the ruins, the islands and the cenotes all within the day-trip radius. It is an American crowd, an easy city and a very reliable beach venue, and for those who bring their own energy, the whole coast of the Riviera Maya waits beyond it.
Booking the High Season, the Ruins and the Weather of the Region
The winter and the spring are the high seasons, warm, dry and busy; the summer brings the heat, the storms and the cheaper prices, and the autumn is the wetter and the quieter end of the year. The hotel zone runs on the resorts, and the day trips to the ruins and the islands sell out in the high season, so book ahead. The peso is the currency, cards are everywhere and the locals are famously patient with the visitors. The current safety advice for the region is good in the resort areas with the usual big-city care off the strip. The sun is serious, so the sunscreen and the shade discipline are part of the trip.
The Buses of the Zone, the Reef Snorkels and the Nights of the Strip
The hotel zone is a long island connected by the bridges, and the municipal buses and the taxis run its length and back into the downtown. The beach of the zone is the point, but the best water is reached by the boats to the islands and the cays, and the snorkel trips to the reef of the nearby park should not be missed. The day trips run the wheel of the region: the ruins of Tulum on the coast, the great pyramid of Chichén Itzá, and the cenotes, the ancient swimming holes of the limestone. The nightlife of the strip, the nightclubs and the beach parties, runs late and loud. It is a resort city with an entire region on its doorstep.
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- Country
- Mexico
- Population
- 940,000
- Coordinates
- 21.0365, -86.8771
- Capital
- Mexico City
- Region
- North America
- Currency
- Mexican Peso (MXN)
- Languages
- Spanish
- Calling code
- +52
- Country code
- MX
Entry requirements for Mexico
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Mexico for tourism.
Getting to Cancún
Airports we list for Cancún:
Other airports in the area:
Cities in Mexico
Other cities we cover in Mexico:
Frequently asked questions
Is Cancún the capital of Mexico?
No — the capital of Mexico is Mexico City.
What currency do I need in Cancún?
The local currency is the Mexican Peso (MXN). Languages spoken in Mexico include Spanish.
What is the dialling code for Mexico?
The international dialling code for Mexico is +52.
Which airport should I fly into for Cancún?
Cancún International Airport (CUN) is the airport we list for Cancún.
How far is Cancún from the nearest airport?
Cancún is about 1,284 km from Mexico City International Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit Mexico?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany and Italy currently enter Mexico visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Cancún? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.